Portugal's Silver Coast: A Family Beach Week Without the Algarve Price Tag
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The first thing that hits you in Nazaré isn't the giant waves the town is famous for — it's the smell. Salt, grilled sardines, and the faint sugar-and-cinnamon waft of a pastéis de nata stall two doors down from our apartment. My kids stood on the seafront promenade, wide-eyed at the fishing boats bobbing below the cliffside Sítio, while I checked my phone for a flight confirmation that had cost less than our airport parking.
We flew out of London Stansted (STN) into Lisbon (LIS) on a TAP Air Portugal connection, and once we'd landed the whole week felt like it belonged to a different budget bracket than our usual Mediterranean trips. If you want to price your own dates before reading on, it's worth taking a moment to check current fares from Stansted to Lisbon, since prices on this route move quickly in summer.
Why the Silver Coast
The Costa de Prata sits an hour or two north of Lisbon and is where a lot of Portuguese families holiday themselves, which means prices haven't caught up with the Algarve yet. Nazaré is the obvious base — a proper fishing town with a wide sandy beach, a funicular up to the clifftop Sítio, and enough gentle shallows for younger kids, while older ones can watch surfers tackle the same swell that draws big-wave riders every winter. Further south, Peniche offers a quieter, surf-town feel with its own fort, harbour, and easy day trips to the Berlengas islands.
Getting There: Flights
Flight prices were checked on the live feed and vary depending on your departure airport. A return flight per person from London Stansted to Lisbon in July is currently from £28, while flying from Manchester works out from £74 return per person. Both routes land at Lisbon (LIS), from where it's a straightforward drive or coach transfer north to the Silver Coast. TAP Air Portugal and a handful of low-cost carriers cover the route, so it's worth comparing departure airports if you have flexibility — the difference between STN and MAN fares alone can cover a couple of family dinners out.
Where to Stay: Nazaré vs Peniche
For a family of four, seven nights in a self-catering apartment in Nazaré comes in from £938.57, putting you a short walk from the main beach and promenade. Peniche is the better value option at from £534.22 for the same length of stay and party size, and its surf-town layout means most rentals are close to both the harbour beach and the calmer town beach. If you're weighing up which base suits your family, it's worth taking a look to compare self-catering apartments in Nazaré against Peniche listings before you commit to dates, since availability shifts fast in July and August.
What to Do With Kids
Beyond the beach itself, the funicular ride up to the Sítio in Nazaré is a genuine highlight for younger children, and the clifftop viewpoint over Praia do Norte gives older kids a sense of just how big those winter waves get. Evenings are easy: a plate of grilled fish, a pastéis de nata for pudding, and if you're lucky, a local playing fado guitar somewhere along the front. In Peniche, the fort and harbour make for a good rainy-afternoon option, and boat trips out to the Berlengas islands are a memorable half-day for families with older children.
Practical Tips: Getting Around
Public transport between the Silver Coast towns exists but is limited, so most families hiring a car at Lisbon Airport find it makes the week considerably easier, especially if you're planning day trips between Nazaré, Peniche, and inland towns like Óbidos. It's worth taking a few minutes to compare car hire options at Lisbon Airport before you fly, since prices and availability both tighten up close to peak summer dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a week in Nazaré cost for a family of four?
Seven nights in a self-catering apartment in Nazaré is currently from £938.57 for a family of four, on top of return flights from £28 per person from Stansted or from £74 per person from Manchester.
Is Peniche or Nazaré better for families?
Both work well. Nazaré has the bigger beach and the funicular to the Sítio, while Peniche is more affordable, currently from £534.22 for seven nights for a family of four, and suits families who want a quieter, surf-town base with easy access to the Berlengas islands.
What's the cheapest way to fly to Lisbon from the UK?
On current fares, London Stansted to Lisbon is the cheapest option at from £28 return per person, with Manchester to Lisbon from £74 return per person. Both routes are served by TAP Air Portugal alongside low-cost carriers, so it pays to compare departure airports if your dates are flexible.
Related reading
Sources / Prices checked: Prices checked 2026-09-06 via Apify live feed (Skyscanner/Booking.com). Confidence: High. All figures in GBP.
